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IMA in Media

Visiting the International Music Academy (On The Road, Stouffville municipal government publication)
Music and mathematics (On The Road, Stouffville municipal government publication, Mandarin edition)
International Music Academy opens Stouffville location (Stouffville Tribune)
International Music Academy opens new location in Stouffville (York Region News)

IMA Success Stories

IMA STUDENTS HAVE WON AWARDS AT THE PRESTIGIOUS 2020 INTERNATIONAL MUSIC FESTIVAL AND COMPETITION


IMFC Logo

The International Music Festival and Competition is an annual event that provides musicians of all ages with opportunities to perform, to conduct and to write music while receiving professional guidance by leading experts in the classical music industry.


GOLD MEDALLIONS
Aaron Dutta
Allyssa Talledo
Angélique Erry
Chantal Luo
Clarisse Lin
Daniel Yu
Emma Kang
Hanyu Zhang
Jaden Thomas
Jason Chen
Kelly Chen
Nicole Huang
Ryan Lam


SILVER MEDALLIONS
Aaron Dutta
Allyssa Talledo
Catherine James
Hanyu Zhang
Jaden Thomas
Kelly Chen
Lucy Zhao
Nicole Huang


BRONZE MEDALLIONS
Aaron Dutta
Giancarlo Montanaro
Hermes Chan
Jashvir Rathore
Jason Chen
Kevin Guo
Kyle Guo
Louis Chan
Reena Tamaran
Renjing Li


Congratulations to all students for their amazing achievement!





ROYAL CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC EXAMINATION (January 2020 session)


RCM Logo

The Royal Conservatory of Music January session examination results have been announced. Congratulations to the IMA students achieving considerably higher than the Provincial average marks, with distinction.



Student

Subject

Mark

Teacher

Savannah Dunberry

Level 8 Theory

92

Ms. Marina Grigorian

Felix Yu

Level 1 Piano

91

Ms. Winnie Hsieh

Elle Zhou

Level 1 Piano

87

Ms. Winnie Hsieh

Jonathan Wong

Level 1 Piano

86

Ms. Marina Grigorian

Priyanka Ragunathan

Level 8 Theory

86

Ms. Antonia deWolfe

Hayden Chin

Level 2 Piano

85

Ms.Winnie Hsieh

Catherine James

Level 1 Piano

84

Ms. Antonia deWolfe

Chantal Luo

Level 7 Piano

83

Ms. Antonia deWolfe

Elijah Gao

Level 1 Piano

82

Ms. Galyna Anno

Jackson Zhu

Level 3 Piano

82

Ms. Elena Eremeeva

Avni Prabhu

Level 1 Piano

80

Ms. Marina Grigorian

Aashika Eswarapatham

Level 3 Piano

80

Ms. Elena Eremeeva

Bethany Tse

Level 3 Piano

80

Ms. Antonia deWolfe

Thea Duggal

Level 3 Guitar

80

Mr. Ramon Taranco

Esther Lam

Level 4 Violin

80

Mr. Arpad Josephson




ROYAL CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC EXAMINATION (August 2019 session)


RCM Logo

The Royal Conservatory of Music August session examination results have been announced. Congratulations to the IMA students achieving considerably higher than the Provincial average marks, with distinction.



Student

Subject

Mark

Teacher

Ryan Lam

Preparatory A Piano

93

Ms. Dianne Hughes

Andrei Talledo

Preparatory B Piano

91

Ms. Suzanne Marfise

Jonathan Wang

Level 5 Flute

91

Ms. Leonid Sprikut

Nicole Huang

Level 1 Piano

89

Ms. Suzanne Marfise

Janessa Puyo

Level 2 Piano

85

Ms. Suzanne Marfise

Clarisse Lin

Level 5 Theory

84

Ms. Dianne Hughes

Angelique Erry

Level 4 Voice

84

Mr. Paul Williamson

Connor Lau

Preparatory Violin

84

Mr. Arpad Josephson

Angelina Kostantin

Level 2 Piano

83

Ms. Galyna Anno

Clarisse Lin

Level 8 Piano

83

Ms. Dianne Hughes

Allyssa Talledo

Level 1 Piano

81

Ms. Suzanne Marfise

Edwin Dong

Level 5 Piano

81

Ms. Suzanne Marfise

Theesik Aravinthan

Level 5 Piano

81

Ms. Suzanne Marfise

Reena Tamaran

Level 1 Piano

80

Ms. Winnie Hsieh

Arianna Jean Lagunzad

Level 2 Piano

80

Ms. Karina Shnayder

ADaniel Yu

Level 4 Piano

80

Ms. Karina Shnayder

Brandon Yin

Level 1 Piano

80

Ms. Antonia De Wolfe

Jason Chen

Level 8 Theory

80

Ms. Antonia De Wolfe




ROYAL CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC EXAMINATION (June 2019 session)


RCM Logo

The Royal Conservatory of Music June session examination results have been announced. Congratulations to the IMA students achieving considerably higher than the Provincial average marks, with distinction.



Student

Subject

Mark

Teacher

Thivya Jeyapalan

Level 8 Theory

92

Ms. Antonia de Wolfe

Isabelle Dasgupta

Level 1 Piano

90

Ms. Galyna Ammo

Emily Jong

Level 8 Theory

89

Ms. Marina Grigoryan

Priyanka Ragunathan

Level 7 Theory

88

Ms. Antonia de Wolfe

Louis Chan

Prep B Piano

86

Ms. Suzanne Marfise

Thea Duggal

Level 1 Guitar

85

Mr. Ramon Taranco

Hermes Chan

Prep B Piano

84

Ms. Suzanne Marfise

Jessica Wang

Level 6 Voice

81

Mr. Paul Williamson

Linda Liu

Level 4 Oboe

80

Mr. John Mills




IMA STUDENTS HAVE WON AWARDS AT THE PRESTIGIOUS 2019 INTERNATIONAL MUSIC FESTIVAL AND COMPETITION


IMFC Logo

The International Music Festival and Competition is an annual event that provides musicians of all ages with opportunities to perform, to conduct and to write music while receiving professional guidance by leading experts in the classical music industry.


GOLD MEDALLIONS
Aaron Chen
Carter Kawabata
Hayden Chin
Peter Morcos
Reese Bi
Rex Hakimi
Thea Duggal


SILVER MEDALLIONS
Aaron Dutta
Alex Reyes
Allyssa Talledo
Catherine James
Chris Wei
Derek Price
Huy Luong
Kelly Chen
Kyle Guo
Reese Bi


BRONZE MEDALLIONS
Renjing Li
Aaron Dutta
Alec Dong
Edwin Dong
Jason Chen
Kevin Guo
Kyle Guo
Kyra Sophie Oszlai
Nicole Huang
Reena Tamaran
Reese Bi
Renjing Li
Theesik Aravinthan


Congratulations to all students for their amazing achievement!





ROYAL CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC EXAMINATION (April 2019 session)


RCM Logo

The Royal Conservatory of Music April session examination results have been announced. Congratulations to the IMA students achieving considerably higher than the Provincial average marks, with distinction.



Student

Subject

Mark

Teacher

Aaron Dutta

Level 3 Piano

88

Ms. Lili Imastounian

Jerry Wong

Level 3 Piano

84

Ms. Lili Imastounian

Ethan Wong

Level 1 Piano

82

Ms. Lili Imastounian

Bethany Tse

Level 2 Piano

81

Ms. Antonia de Wolfe

Reese Bi

Level 5 Piano

81

Ms. Lili Imastounian

Henry Zheng

Level 2 Piano

81

Ms. Marina Grigoryan

Jonathan Wong

Prep B Piano

80

Ms. Marina Grigoryan




WINNERS OF THE 2019 KIWANIS FESTIVAL OF THE GREATER TORONTO AREA


toronto kiwanis festival

This year there were over 1,000 young musicians performing at the GTA Kiwanis Music Festival. Competitive as ever, the Festival was a great opportunity for our students to receive feedback on their studies from internationally renowned artists


Three of the International Music Academy (Markham) students have received the highest recognition and has been awarded First Place in the following categories:


Aaron Chen 1st place (Clarinet Grade 9)
Patrick Hu 1st place (Clarinet Grade 8)
Jeffrey Su - 1st place (Clarinet Grade 6)
Jonathan Wang 3rd place (Flute Grade 3)
Jalen Yang 3rd place (Clarinet Grade 8)


Jaffrey, Patrick and Aaron have also been selected to compete at the Ontario Provincial Finals in June. Congratulations to them all and many thanks to their teacher Mr. Leonid Sprikut for his continued dedication.




ROYAL CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC EXAMINATION (January 2019 session)


RCM Logo

The Royal Conservatory of Music January session examination results have been announced. Congratulations to the IMA students achieving considerably higher than the Provincial average marks, with distinction.



Student

Subject

Mark

Teacher

Kevin Guo

Level 10 Theory

95

Ms. Antonia de Wolfe

Jonathan Wong

Level 8 Theory

93

Ms. Suzanne Marfise

Daria Pryymak

Preparatory A Piano

90

Ms. Dianne Hughes

Angela Liang

Level 1 Vioce

88

Ms. Sara Chen

Jason Chen

Level 8 Piano

88

Ms. Antonia De Wolfe

Clarisse Lin

Level 7 Piano

84

Ms. Dianne Hughes

Avni Prabhu

Preparatory B Piano

83

Ms. Marina Grigoryan

Clara Kim

Level 8 Piano

83

Ms. Dianne Hughes

Thivya Jeyapalan

Level 8 Piano

80

Ms. Antonia De Wolfe




ROYAL CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC EXAMINATION (August 2018 session)


RCM Logo

The Royal Conservatory of Music August session examination results have been announced. Congratulations to the IMA students achieving considerably higher than the Provincial average marks, with distinction.



Student

Subject

Mark

Teacher

Renee White

Level 8 Theory

98

Ms. Antonia de Wolfe

Jonathan Yu Sing Wong

Preparatory A Piano

88

Ms. Marina Grigoryan

Bethany Tse

Level 1 Piano

88

Ms. Antonia De Wolfe

Rida Aftab

Level 5 Piano

87

Ms. Antonia De Wolfe

Esther Lam

Level 2 Violin

87

Mr. Arpad Josephson

Reena Tamanan

Preparatory B Piano

86

Ms. Marina Grigoryan

Janessa Puyo

Level 1 Piano

86

Ms. Suzanne Marfise

Carter Kawabata

Level 7 Piano

85

Ms. Lili Imastounian

Jenny Wang

Level 2 Piano

84

Ms. Suzanne Marfise

Eva Montanaro

Preparatory Violin

84

Mr. Arpad Josephson

Daniel Yu

Level 3 Piano

83

Ms. Suzanne Marfise

Alec Dong

Level 8 Piano

81

Ms. Suzanne Marfise

Isabelle Dasgupta

Preparatory B Piano

80

Ms. Galyna Anno

Anujan Kandasamy

Level 5 Piano

80

Ms. Lili Imastounian




ROYAL CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC EXAMINATION (June 2018 session)


RCM Logo

The Royal Conservatory of Music June session examination results have been announced. Congratulations to the IMA students achieving considerably higher than the Provincial average marks, with distinction.



Student

Subject

Mark

Teacher

Emily Jong

Level 7 Theory

94

Ms. Lili Imastounian

Arianna Lagunzad

Preparatory B Piano

93

Ms. Suzanne Marfise

Thivya Jeyapalan

Level 7 Theory

92

Ms. Antonia De Wolfe

Jonathan Wong

Level 7 Theory

92

Ms. Suzanne Marfise

Avni Prabhu

Preparatory A Piano

89

Ms. Marina Grigoryan

Priyanka Ragunathan

Level 5 Theory

88

Ms. Marina Grigoryan

Savannah Dunberry

Level 7 Theory

88

Ms. Marina Grigoryan

Shaelin Baldsing

Level 2 Piano

86

Ms. Marina Grigoryan

Jason Chen

Level 7 Piano

85

Ms. Antonia De Wolfe

Jeffrey Su

Level 4 Clarinet

84

Mr. Leonid Sprikut

Nitin Raj

Level 2 Piano

83

Ms. Marina Grigoryan

Jerry Wong

Level 2 Piano

83

Ms. Lili Imastounian

Jatynne Raj

Level 4 Piano

83

Ms. Marina Grigoryan

Rohin Furchner

Preparatory B Piano

80

Ms. Marina Grigoryan




ROYAL CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC EXAMINATION (April 2018 session)


RCM Logo

The Royal Conservatory of Music April session examination results have been announced. Congratulations to the IMA students achieving considerably higher than the Provincial average marks, with distinction.



Student

Subject

Mark

Teacher

Aryan Ihsan

Level 2 Piano

94

Ms. M. Grigoryan

Ava Ford

Prep B Piano

93

Ms. M. Grigoryan

Reena Tamanan

Prep A Piano

92

Ms. M. Grigoryan

Christina Tarla

Prep B Piano

92

Ms. M. Grigoryan




WINNERS OF THE 2018 KIWANIS FESTIVAL OF THE GREATER TORONTO AREA


toronto kiwanis festival

This year there were over 1,000 young musicians performing at the GTA Kiwanis Music Festival. Competitive as ever, the Festival was a great opportunity for our students to receive feedback on their studies from internationally renowned artists


Three of the International Music Academy (Markham) students have received the highest recognition and has been awarded First Place in the following categories:


Aaron Cheng – Clarinet (RCM Grade 8)
Patrick Hu – Clarinet (RCM Grade 7)
Jeffrey Su – Clarinet (RCM Grade 4)


Patrick and Aaron have also been selected to compete at the Ontario Provincial Finals in June. Congratulations to them all and many thanks to their teacher Mr. Leonid Sprikut for his continued dedication




ROYAL CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC EXAMINATION (January 2018 session)


RCM Logo

The Royal Conservatory of Music January session examination results have been announced. Congratulations to the IMA students achieving considerably higher than the Provincial average marks, with distinction.



Student

Subject

Mark

Teacher

Alex Reyes

Level 8 Theory

100

Ms. Antonia De Wolfe

Jonathan Wong

Level 6 Theory

94

Ms. Suzanne Marfise

Theesik Aravinthan

Level 2 Piano

88

Ms. Suzanne Marfise

April J Wei

Level 9 Piano

85

Ms. Suzanne Marfise

Jenny Wang

Level 1 Piano

83

Ms. Suzanne Marfise

Nancy Peter

Level 8 Theory

83

Ms. Antonia De Wolfe

Thivya Jeyapalan

Level 7 Piano

82

Ms. Antonia De Wolfe

Renee White

Level 7 Theory

82

Ms. Antonia De Wolfe

Carter Kawabata

Level 8 Theory

82

Ms. Lili Imastounian

Edwin Dong

Level 3 Piano

80

Ms. Suzanne Marfise




ROYAL CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC EXAMINATION (August 2017 session)


RCM Logo

The Royal Conservatory of Music August session examination results have been announced. Congratulations to the IMA students achieving considerably higher than the Provincial average marks, with distinction.



Student

Subject

Mark

Teacher

Christina Tarla

Preparatory A Piano

95

Ms. Marina Grigoryan

Nancy Peter

Level 6 Theory

92

Ms. Antonia de Wolfe

Adela Hua

History Level 10

91

Ms. Antonia de Wolfe

Daniel Yu

Level 1 Piano

91

Ms. Suzanne Marfise

Alec Dong

Level 8 Theory

90

Ms. Suzanne Marfise

Ava Ford

Preparatory A Piano

90

Ms. Marina Grigoryan

Rohin Furchner

Preparatory A Piano

90

Ms. Marina Grigoryan

Shaelin Baldsing

Level 1 Piano

88

Ms. Marina Grigoryan

Kyra Sophie Oazlai

Level 5 Theory

86

Ms. Antonia de Wolfe

Jatynne Raj

Level 3 Piano

83

Ms. Marina Grigoryan

Nitin Raj

Level 1 Piano

81

Ms. Marina Grigoryan

Holden Boutros

Level 3 Piano

80

Ms. Marina Grigoryan

Logan Boutros

Level 3 Piano

80

Ms. Marina Grigoryan




ROYAL CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC EXAMINATION (June 2017 session)


RCM Logo

The Royal Conservatory of Music June session examination results have been announced. Congratulations to the IMA students achieving considerably higher than the Provincial average marks, with distinction.



Student

Subject

Mark

Teacher

Deejesh Subramanian

Theory 8

94

Mr. Arpad Josephson

Savannah Dunberry

Theory 6

91

Ms. Marina Gregorian

Aryan Ihsan

Level 1 Piano

91

Ms. Marina Gregorian

Jashvir Rathore

Level 1 Clarinet

91

Mr. John Mills

Bernice Chung

Level 5 Theory

88

Mr. Arpad Josephson

Alexandra Lavric

Prep A Piano

88

Ms. Marina Grigoryan

Rex Hakimi

Prep A Piano

88

Ms. Marina Grigoryan

Henry Zheng

Prep B Piano

87

Ms. Marina Grigoryan

Carter Kawabata

Level 6 Piano

86

Ms. Lili Imastounian

Theesik Aravinthan

Level 1 Piano

84

Mrs. Suzanne Marfise

Alexandra Lavric

Level 1 Voice

81

Ms. Marina Grigoryan

Navid Pahlwan

Level 4 Piano

80

Mrs. Suzanne Marfise

Chloe Ip

Level 8 Piano

80

Ms. Antonia DeWolfe

Emily Jong

Level 6 Theory

80

Ms. Marina Grigoryan

Garrett Kawabata

Level 9 Piano

80

Ms. Lili Imastounian

Rex Hakimi

Level 1 Voice

80

Ms. Marina Grigoryan




ROYAL CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC EXAMINATION (January 2017 session)


RCM Logo

The Royal Conservatory of Music January session examination results have been announced. Congratulations to the IMA students achieving considerably higher than the Provincial average marks, with distinction.



Student

Subject

Mark

Teacher

Alec Dong

Theory Level 6

94

Ms. Suzanne Marfise

Deejesh Subramanian

Theory Level 6

90

Mr. Arpad Josephson

Emma Grace Ortiz

Level 3 Violin

90

Ms. Salome Legemaate

Alex Reyes

Level 10 Piano

84

Ms. Antonia de Wolfe

Anya Pooran

Level 1 Violin

84

Ms. Salome Legemaate




ROYAL CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC EXAMINATION (August 2016 session)


RCM Logo

The Royal Conservatory of Music August session examination results have been announced. Congratulations to the IMA students achieving considerably higher than the Provincial average marks, with distinction.



Student

Subject

Mark

Teacher

Emma Grace Ortiz

Grade 1 Violin

90

Ms. Salome Legemaate

Aryan Ihsan

Prep B Piano

86

Ms. M. Grigoryan

Jatynne Raj

Grade 2 Piano

86

Ms. M. Grigoryan

Shaelin Baldsing

Prep B Piano

85

Ms. M. Grigoryan

Dailiang Chen

Grade 2 Piano

83

Ms. M. Grigoryan

Nitin Raj

Prep B Piano

82

Ms. M. Grigoryan

James Au

Prep B Piano

82

Ms. M. Grigoryan

Jonathan Wong

Grade 1 Guitar

81

Mr. Ramon Taranco

Celina M Mekhail

Grade 5 Voice

80

Mr. Justin Walsh




ROYAL CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC EXAMINATION (June 2016 session)


RCM Logo

The Royal Conservatory of Music June session examination results have been announced. Congratulations to the IMA students achieving considerably higher than the Provincial average marks, with distinction.



Student

Subject

Mark

Teacher

Alec Dong

Theory Basic

97

Ms. Suzanne Marfise

Olivia Maveal

Theory Basic

97

Ms. Marina Grigoryan

Rhea Pai

Theory Basic

97

Ms. Antonia De Wolfe

Savannah Dunberry

Theory Basic

95

Ms. Marina Grigoryan

Linda Gu

Theory Basic

95

Ms. Antonia De Wolfe

Bernice Wu

Theory Advanced

92

Ms. Marina Grigoryan

Aaron Chen

Grade 6 Clarinet

89

Mr. Leonid Sprikut

Evelyne Jurca

Theory Intermediate

87

Ms. Antonia De Wolfe

Jackie Xu

Grade 8 Clarinet

80

Mr. Leonid Sprikut




ROYAL CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC EXAMINATION (April 2016 session)


RCM Logo

The Royal Conservatory of Music April session examination results have been announced. Congratulations to the IMA students achieving considerably higher than the Provincial average marks, with distinction.



Student

Subject

Mark

Teacher

Darius Bonakdar

Grade 3 Piano

87

Ms. Katherine Cao

Carter Kawabata

Grade 5 Piano

85

Ms. Lili Imastounian

Teresa (Yuxuan) Peng

Grade 9 Piano

83

Ms. Lili Imastounian

Mutian Liu

Grade 7 Piano

82

Ms. Antonia de Wolfe




THE INTERNATIONAL MUSIC ACADEMY HAS WON THE 2016 CONSUMER CHOICE AWARD FOR BEST PRIVATE MUSIC SCHOOL IN YORK REGION.


Consumer choice 2016

Consumer Choice Award was established in 1987 and is considered to be the most distinguished award for business excellence in Canada.


This is the second time the International Music Academy has won the Consumer Choice Award for best private music school, within the past 5 years.


In his congratulatory letter to the International Music Academy Faculty and Staff, Mr. Marcl Sbrollini, President of the Consumer Choice Award wrote:


“… the consumers and the business in your community have selected you as the top-ranked organization in your industry. You are now part of a very select group of business owners and entrepreneurs recognized for their business excellence in the GTA.”


Official Announcement of the Award was made on February 4, 2016 in Le Parc Centre in Richmond Hill.


Warmest thanks to our students, their parents and all clients for their confidence in the International Music Academy. Congratulations to all teachers and staff for their dedication and work at the highest international standards.




ROYAL CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC EXAMINATION (January 2016 session)


RCM Logo

The Royal Conservatory of Music January session examination results have been announced. Congratulations to the IMA students achieving considerably higher than the Provincial average marks, with distinction.



Student

Subject

Mark

Teacher

Emily Jong

Harmony I

97

Ms. Marina Grigoryan

Joy Wu

Theory III

95

Ms. Katherine Cao

Michael Lee

Theory III

88

Ms. Marina Grigoryan

Labros Spandonidis

Grade 4 Piano

84

Ms. Antonia de Wolfe

Celina Mekhail

Grade 3 Voice

81

Mr. Justin Welsh




ROYAL CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC EXAMINATION (August 2015 session)


RCM Logo

The Royal Conservatory of Music August session examination results have been announced. Congratulations to the IMA students achieving considerably higher than the Provincial average marks, with distinction.



Student

Subject, Grade

Mark

Teacher

Jatynne Raj

Grade 1 Piano

86

Ms. Lili Imastounian

Mishani Tan

Preparatory Violin

81

Mr. Arpad Josephson

Adela Hua

Basic Harmony

80

Ms. Suzanne Marfise




ROYAL CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC EXAMINATION (June 2015 session)


RCM Logo

The Royal Conservatory of Music June session examination results have been announced. Congratulations to the IMA students achieving considerably higher than the Provincial average marks, with distinction.



Student

Subject, Grade

Mark

Teacher

Kyra Sophie Oszlai

Grade 2 Piano

93

Ms. Antonia de Wolfe

Kyra Sophie Oszlai

Grade 1 Guitar

86

Mr. Ramon Taranco

Adela Hua

Grade 5 Trumpet

83

Mr. Leonid Sprikut




WINNERS OF THE 2015 KIWANIS FESTIVAL OF THE GREATER TORONTO AREA


toronto kiwanis festival

This year there were over 1,000 young musicians performing at the GTA Kiwanis Music Festival. Competitive as ever, the Festival was a great opportunity for our students to receive feedback on their studies from internationally renowned artists.


Three of the International Music Academy (Markham) students have received the highest recognition and has been awarded First Place in the following categories:


Richard Zhang – 1st Award (RCM clarinet, Grade 7)
Jackie Xu - 1st Award (RCM clarinet, Grade 6)
Katherine Lee – 1st Award (RCM clarinet, Grade 3)
Garrett Kawabata – Silver Award (RCM piano, Grade 8)
Garrett Kawabata – Silver Award (RCM piano, Grade 7)
Karter Kawabata – Bronze Award (RCM piano, Grade 4)



ROYAL CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC EXAMINATION (January 2015 session)


RCM Logo

The Royal Conservatory of Music January session examination results have been announced. Congratulations to the IMA students achieving considerably higher than the Provincial average marks, with distinction.



Student

Subject, Grade

Mark

Teacher

Anjali Mistry

Music Theory II

93

Ms. Suzanne Marfise

Michael Lee

Music Theory II

92

Ms. Marina Grigoryan

David Yap

Grade 2 Violin

92

Ms. Marina Grigoryan

Alena Parkinson

Grade 6 Piano

84

Ms. Antonia de Wolfe

Kyra Sophie Oszlai

Grade 1 Piano

83

Ms. Antonia de Wolfe

Kyle Omari Miller

Grade 1 Piano

80

Ms. Antonia de Wolfe




ROYAL CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC EXAMINATION (January 2015 session)


RCM Logo

The Royal Conservatory of Music January session examination results have been announced. Congratulations to the IMA students achieving considerably higher than the Provincial average marks, with distinction.



Student

Subject, Grade

Mark

Edward Tang

Theory Advanced

93

Labros Spandonidis

Grade 1 Piano

91

Rida Aftab

Grade 1 Piano

87

Kayvon Najibzadeh

Grade 1 Piano

83

Matthew Finn

Grade 2 Piano

81

Jackie Xu

Grade 4 Clarinet

80

Tiger Zhao

Grade 8 Saxophone

80




ROYAL CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC EXAMINATION (June 2014 session)


RCM Logo

The Royal Conservatory of Music June session examination results have been announced. Congratulations to the IMA students achieving considerably higher than the Provincial average marks, with distinction.



Student

Subject, Grade

Mark

Brenda Liu

Theory Basic

93

Rishi Bhuwan

Grade 3 Trumpet

86

Garrett Kawabata

Grade 4 Violin

80

Noah Mathew

Grade 2 Piano

80




ROYAL CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC EXAMINATION (January 2014 session)


RCM Logo

The Royal Conservatory of Music January session examination results have been announced. Congratulations to the IMA students achieving considerably higher than the Provincial average marks, with distinction.



Student

Subject, Grade

Mark

Tiger Zhao

Theory Advanced

93

Garrett Kawabata

Theory Intermediate

91

Carter Kawabata

Grade 3 Piano

87

Matthew Finn

Grade 1 Piano

83

Garrett Kawabata

Grade 6 Piano

82

David Yap

Grade 1 Violin

80

Ethan Jong

Grade 2 Piano

80




ROYAL CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC EXAMINATION (August 2013 session)


RCM Logo

The Royal Conservatory of Music August session examination results have been announced. Congratulations to the IMA students achieving considerably higher than the Provincial average marks, with distinction.



Student

Subject, Grade

Mark

Edward Tang

Theory Intermediate

99

Rishi Bhuwan

Grade 1 Trumpet

90

Sharon Cheung

Grade 2 Flute

87

Tiger Zhao

Grade 6 Saxophone

86

Olivia Xu

Grade 4 Violin

86

Chloe Cheung

Grade 2 Flute

85

Noah Mathew

Grade 1 Piano

80

Rachel Tang

Grade 7 Piano

80




ROYAL CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC EXAMINATION (June 2013 session)


RCM Logo

The Royal Conservatory of Music June session examination results have been announced. Congratulations to the IMA students achieving considerably higher than the Provincial average marks, with distinction.



Student

Subject, Grade

Mark

Anjali Mistry

Theory Basic

99

Odosa Obasuyi

Grade 1 piano

89

Michael Lee

Theory Basic

88

Zahra Mustansir

Grade 1 piano

84

Niral Mistry

Grade 2 Clarinet

83

Michael Cheng

Grade 2 Flute

81

Janis Cheng

Grade 2 Flute

81

Vincent Poon

Grade 4 Violin

80




ROYAL CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC EXAMINATION (April 2013 session)


RCM Logo

The Royal Conservatory of Music April session examination results have been announced. Congratulations to the IMA students achieving considerably higher than the Provincial average marks, with distinction.



Student

Subject, Grade

Mark

Chloe Tam

Grade 3 Piano

85

Adit Krishnan

Grade 3 Piano

82

Jessica Facchini

Grade 2 Piano

82

Alexander Nielsen

Grade 2 piano

80

Mariah A Brown

Grade 5 Piano

80




THE DJOGO BROTHERS HAVE WON THREE FIRST AWARDS AT THE 2013 NORTH YORK MUSIC COMPETITION

Gligor Djogo (clarinet) has won a first place in the category of ARCT Performance at the North York Music Competition for playing Mozart’s Concerto for clarinet and orchestra. His younger brother, Novak Djogo (flute), has won a first award and Radomir Djogo (trumpet) has won a first award as well. All three boys are students of Mr. Leonid Sprikut. Congratulations on their excellent performances and all the best in their future music-related endeavours.




Nicole Lazarovsky and Deven Chakravorty have won prestigious awards at the 2012 North York Music Festival.

May 2012. North York Music Festival was created in 2010 and has quickly gained popularity due to its professional adjudicators and non-competitive environment. Nicole Lazarovsky (voice) and Deven Chakravorty (voice) have won second award at the 2012 North York Music Festival.




The International Music Academy students were invited by the Toronto Maple Leafs to sing the Canadian national anthem at the opening of the hockey game of the Toronto Marlies vs the American Grand Rapids Griffins (AHL).

April 2012. Eighteen IMA students took part in this prestigious event, held on April 7, 2012 at Ricoh Coliseum 9,500-seat stadium. To our pleasure, the Marlies have won the game, 45 seconds into overtime with 3-2. To watch a short documentary in HD, click on the image below.




iMA students have won great awards at the 2012 Markham Euromusic piano competition

April 2012.The Markham Music Festival is also known as the Euromusic Piano Competition. It has been created in 1994 and is sponsored by TD Canada Trust. The competition is for young pianists only and is based on the Royal Conservatory of Music curriculum. It is also one of the most serious piano competitions in the GTA. Congratulations on excellent performances to:


Gwyneth Poon (Second Award in RCM Grade 7 class)
Parthee Bala (Second Award in RCM Grade 3 class)

Warmest thanks to their teachers for inspiring our young pianists and guiding them to the highest achievements as well as to their families for their continuous support.




iMA students have achieved spectacular success at 2012 Kiwanis Music Festival.

March 2012. Six students from the International Music Academy have competed with hundreds of participants from the Greater Toronto Area at the 2012 Kiwanis Music Festival. All have won prestigious awards in various categories. Congratulations on their outstanding performances to:


Marcel Short (Gold Award in RCM Grade 2 clarinet class)
Radomir Djogo (Gold Award in RCM Grade 2 trumpet class)
Novak Djogo (Gold Award in RCM Grade 6 flute class)
Garrett Kawabata (Gold Award in RCM Grade 4 piano class)
Carter Kawabata (Gold Award in RCM Grade 2 piano class)
Matthew Wong (Gold Award in RCM Grade 7 violin class)
Gligor Djogo (Silver Award in RCM Grade 9 clarinet class)
Mihai Lungu (Silver Award in RCM Grade 2 trumpet class)

Warmest thanks to their teachers for inspiring our young musicians and guiding them to the highest achievements as well as to their families for their continuous support.




Marina Wai, a student at the International Music Academy, has been awarded the 2011 Gold Medal for the highest mark (96) in Grade 4 piano examination in Ontario.

February 2012. An international leader in the fields of music education and performance training, The Royal Conservatory is celebrating its 125th Anniversary this year with the introduction of the combined Convocation and Gold Medal Awards Ceremony. Gold Medals are awarded each academic year, September 1 to August 31, by province or region, to candidates who have obtained the highest marks for practical examinations in each discipline, Grades 1 through ARCT. In order to be eligible for these awards, recipients must have obtained a minimum mark of 80% on their practical examination and have completed the theory requirements for their grade.

On behalf of The Royal Conservatory, we cordially invite you to the 2011 Ontario and Quebec Convocation and Gold Medal Awards Ceremony in Toronto to celebrate excellence in music with the community of Gold Medal Teachers and Medalists this year. The 2011 Ontario and Quebec Convocation and Gold Medal Ceremony wil take place on February 12, 2012 at 2:00 p.m. at Koerner Hall, The Royal Conservatory, The TELUS Centre for Performance and Learning at 273 Bloor Street West, Toronto, ON M5S 1W2.




Nine IMA students have received a mark over 80 at the Royal Conservatory of Music January 2012 examination session.

Matthew Wong (grade 7 violin)
Edward Tang (grade 4 piano)
Mary Christidis (grade 3 harmony)
Katryna Durfy Weir (grade 2 rudiments)
Madura Muraleetharan (grade 2 voice)
Samantha Fung (grade 1violin)
Niral Mistry (grade 1 piano)
Timothe Noche (grade 1 violin)
Olivia Xu (grade 1 violin)



14 students from York Region have won the Kindred Spirits Orchestra 2011 Broadway Kids Live! auditions.

The Kindred Spirits Orchestra under the Honorary Patronage of Mayor Frank Scarpitti of Markham is pleased to announce the winners of the 2011 Broadway Kids Live! Auditions. Broadway Kids Live! is a new programme created by the Kindred Spirits Orchestra that is designed to provide children with opportunities to acquire important skills in singing, acting, dancing, working with conductor, and performing in front of a large audience. From 115 applications received, 55 children from York Region were invited to audition live in Markham and another 23, in Toronto. During the live auditions, a panel of judges led by Maestro Kristian Alexander, Music Director of the Kindred Spirits Orchestra, looked for a particular blend of vocal, acting, and dancing skills, as related to a pre-determined list of characters that will later be included in the show. A final cast of 14 children was selected to perform live on stage of Markham Theatre for the Performing Arts on May 6, 2012:

- Aneesah Bari (Stouffville)
- Ayla Neumann (New Market)
- Candace Santos (Mississauga)
- Celeste McGill (Maple)
- Deven Chakravorty (Markham)
- Faith Rauen (Unionville)
- Glenn Edward Montera (Toronto)
- Isabelle Duchene (New Market)
- Leya Herschel (Markham)
- Lia Luz (Scarborough)
- Luka Mihajlovi (Markham)
- May He Tessoro (Unionville)
- Nicole Lazarovski (Markham)
- Samantha Waller (Richmond Hill)



iMA students have won the highest awards in the GTA at the 2011 Kiwanis Music Festival

16 students from the International Music Academy have competed with thousands of participants from the GreateToronto Area at the 2011 Kiwanis Music Festival. All have won prestigious awards in various categoriesCongratulations on their outstanding performances to:

- Stella Schneckenburger (Piano solo RCM Grade 3) - Gold Award and Best in Class
- Garrett Kawabata (Piano solo Sonatinas) - Gold Award and 1st place
- Celia Tang (Clarinet solo RCM Grade 10) - Gold Award and 1st place
- Sharon Wong (Piano solo RCM Grade 7) - Gold Award and 2nd place
- Ryan Xu (Piano solo RCM Grade 1) - Gold Award and 2nd place
- Carter Kawabata (Piano solo RCM Grade 2) - Gold Award and 3rd place
- Marina Wai (Piano solo RCM Grade 6) - Gold Award and 3rd place
- Michael Xu (Piano solo RCM Grade 4) - Gold Award
- Gwyneth Poon (Piano solo RCM Grade 5) - Gold Award
- Daniel Joanes (Piano solo RCM Grade 2) - Gold Award
- Julie-Anne Boucher (Violin solo RCM Grade 7) - Gold Award
- Hansel Lui (Violin solo RCM Grade 3) - Silver Award
- Daniel Joanes (Piano solo RCM Grade 2) - Silver Award
- Garrett Kawabata (Piano solo RCM Grade 3) - Silver Award
- Johnson Zheng (Piano solo RCM Grade 2) - Silver Award
- Martin Tuzin (Piano solo RCM Grade 6) - Silver Award
- Katherine Lee (Piano solo RCM Grade 4) - Silver Award
- Jobert Sevilleno (Voice solo) - Bronze Award and 2nd place



2010 Richmond Hill Music Festival has brought more awards to iMA students.

Three voice students from the clas of Ms. Helena Holl have won a Silver Award at the 2010 Richmond Hill Music Festival. Congratulations to:

- Leya Herschel (Italian Art Song)
- Nicole Lazarovsky (Broadway Musical)
- Jobert Sevilleno (Open class)



International Music Academy has sponsored the educaiton of 4 children in Peru

Through a collaboration with AYNI, the International Music Academy has assisted 4 children in Peru with the purchase of books and educational materials required for one year of studies. Watch a video about this exciting partnership in gallery.




Great success at the 2010 North York Music Festival

The North York Music Festival (formerly NYCO Music Festival) has brought another wave of great success to our students, especially those who competed in the vocal classes. Congratulations to:


Stephanie CommarasanaGOLD Award (saxophone)
Leya HerschelGOLD Award (voice)
Philip HuynhGOLD Award (voice)
Charina AlducenteSILVER Award (voice)
Nicole LazarovskiSILVER Award (voice) and BRONZE Award (voice)
Nicole JaskotSILVER Award (voice)
Garett KawabataSILVER Award (piano)
Aneesah BariBRONZE Award (voice)


Special thanks to their teachers Ms. Helena Holl (voice), Ms. Mao Ke (voice), Ms. Priscila Coelho (voice, piano), Mr. Leonid Sprikut (woodwinds), and Ms. Lili Imastounian (piano).




More awards from the 2010 Markham Euromusic piano competition

The Markham Music Festival is well known as the Euromusic Piano Competition. It has been created in 1994 and is sponsored by TD Canada Trust. The competition is for young pianists only and is based on the Royal Conservatory of Music curriculum. It is also one of the most serious piano competitions in the GTA. Congratulations on excellent performances to:


Gwyneth Poon (First Award in RCM Grade 3 Sonatina class)
Sindu Karunaharan (Second Award in RCM Grade 3 contemporary piece class)
Katherine Lee (Third Award in RCM Grade 3 contemporary piece class)


Warmest thanks to their teachers for inspiring our young pianists and guiding them to highest achievements. Best regards to the families for their continuous support.




iMA students have won 11 GOLD awards at the 2010 Kiwanis Music Festival

Congratulations to the following students:


Gligor Djogo (GOLD Award), clarinet RCM Grade 8
Cameron Lee (GOLD Award), violin RCM Grade 8
Matthew Wong (GOLD Award), violin RCM Grade 6
Maggie Chie (GOLD Award), saxophone RCM Grade 6
Amanda Mac (GOLD Award), piano RCM Grade 5
Novak Djogo (GOLD Award), flute RCM Grade 4
Ameen Meshkat (GOLD Award), saxophone RCM Grade 4
Tiger Zhao (GOLD Award), saxophone RCM Grade 1
Jeffrey Li (GOLD Award), Guitar RCM Grade 1
Michael Xu (GOLD Award), piano RCM Introductory Grade
Michelle Yu (GOLD Award), voice Musical theatre
Andrea Wong (SILVER Award), violin RCM Grade 6
Martin Tuzim (SILVER Award), piano RCM Grade 5
Jamal Virani (SILVER Award), voice Musical theatre
Cathy Shen (BRONZE Award), voice Grand Opera




iMA students have won awards at the 2009 Richmond Hill Music Festival

Congratulations on successful performances to:


Lucy Yi (double bass) - 1st place (class DB5)
Nicole Jaskot (voice) - 2nd place (class VO3)
Michelle Yu (voice) - 3rd place (class VO5)




iMA has won the 2008 Consumers' Choice Award for best music school in the GTA

The International Music Academy has won the 2008 Consumers' Choice Award for best music school in the GTA. We have won in all categories of "consumers satisfaction", "quality of education", "programmes and services", "learning and teaching environment", "management", "music festivals and competitions", and overall "business excellence". The official award ceremony was recorded on June 2, 2008 by CTV for future release.

The Consumers' Choice Award is considered the seal of excellence. For recipients the award not only constitutes the crowning achievement of their efforts, but more importantly it also represents the most valuable reward of all, the knowledge that they have earned the trust and loyalty of consumers.

The International Music Academy Faculty, Staff, and Management would like to thank all students and their families for their continuous support and for voting us the best music school in the Great Toronto Area.




iMA student has won Second Award on the Ontario Provincial Music Competition

Xianxin Du was selected to represent the GTA at the Ontario Provincial Competition (in the category of brass instruments). He competed with other candidates from all major cities in Ontario and has won the Second Award. This has been very fruitful year for Xianxin. He has also won a SILVER medal from the Royal Conservatory of Music and a Second Award from the Kiwanis Music Competition. Congratulations on your great achievements!




iMA students have won great awards at the prestigious Kiwanis Music Competition.

The International Music Academy Faculty and Staff congratulate the following students on their outstanding performance:


Ryan Ip (violin) – First Award (RCM 9 Violin sonata)
Ryan Ip (violin) – First Award (RCM 9 Violin concerto)
Renée Ly (piano) – First Award (RCM 4, List A)
Diane Tam (violin) – First Award (RCM 3, List C)

Xianxin Du (trumpet) – Second Award (RCM 9, List B)
Ryan Ip (violin) – Second Award (Bach solo sonata)
Clemence Tam (violin) – Second Award (RCM 4, List A)
Renée Ly (piano) - Second Award (RCM 4, List B)
Diane Tam (violin) – Second Award (RCM 3, List A)
Ranjith Ranganathan (guitar) – Second Award (RCM 1, List A)
Anna Wong (violin) – Second Award (RCM 2, List A)
Daniella Pisciola (piano) – Second Award (RCM i, List A)
John Mamatis (piano) – Second Award (RCM 1, List B)

Clemence Tam (violin) – Third Award (RCM 4, List C)
Aaron Wong (piano) – Third Award (RCM 4, List B)
Matthew Wong (violin) – Third Award (RCM 4, List A)
Maria Pin (violin) – Third Award (RCM 4, Violin Studies)
Stanley Yeung (trumpet) – Third Award (RCM 4, List B)
Amanda Mac (piano) – Third Award (RCM 2, List B)
Serena Sgandurra (piano) – Third Award (RCM 1, List A)
Ganesh Santhananthan (saxophone) – Third Award (RCM 2)


Congratulations go also to the following students for their excellent performance. They all have put a lot of time and energy and have achieved great results: Cameron Lee (violin), Hayson Ko (violin), Stanley Yeung (piano), Sunny Yeung (piano), Chelsea Dumasal (piano), Ellie Mamatis (piano).


We would also like to thank the teachers Mr. Leonid Sprikut, Mrs. Svetlana Koroleva, Mrs. Irina Pechkina, Mrs. Olga Polikarpova, and Mr. Rizgar Al-Timary for their professionalism and dedication.


The Kiwanis Music Competition is the oldest in Canada and is a member of the Kiwanis International that was founded in 1915 with the goal to "change the world one child and one community at a time".




7 GOLD, 9 SILVER, and 6 BRONZE medals for iMA students

Arts Richmond Hill was founded in 1979 as a community based Arts Council whose mandate is the advancement of arts and culture through promotion, awareness, and education. Every year hundreds of students participate in a Music competition based on the Royal Conservatory of Music curricula and examination requirements. During the last weekend of November 2007 iMA students competed in several classes for piano, violin, trumpet, flute, and voice. The winners of this year Richmond Hill Music Competition are:


Aaron Wong, GOLD medal (piano, P13)
Alexander Volkov, GOLD medal (violin, VN25)
Alexander Volkov, GOLD medal (violin, VN27)
Hayson Ko, GOLD medal (violin, VN19)
Serena Sgandurra, GOLD medal (piano, P4)
Stanley Yeung, GOLD medal (trumpet, TU3)
Xianxin Du, GOLD medal (trumpet, TU5)

Aaron Wong, SILVER medal (piano, P11)
Alexander Volkov, SILVER medal (violin, VN24)
Alexander Volkov, SILVER medal (violin, VN26)
Anna Djalilvand, SILVER medal (violin, VN9)
Anna Djalilvand, SILVER medal (violin, VN11)
Deanna Rudiak, SILVER medal (violin, P18)
Diane Tam, SILVER medal (violin, VN9)
Hayson Ko, SILVER medal (piano, VN18)
Serena Sgandurra, SILVER medal (piano, P3)

Anna Djalilvand, BRONZE medal (violin, VN10)
Anna Wong, BRONZE medal (violin, VN6)
Diane Tam, BRONZE medal (violin, VN10)
Diane Tam, BRONZE medal (violin, VN11)
Hayson Ko, BRONZE medal (violin, VN20)
Jonathan Matta, BRONZE medal (piano, P2)




iMA students have received the highest award of the Royal Conservatory of Music.

Every academic year the Royal Conservatory of Music awards SILVER medals to students who have achieved the highest marks on their combined practical and theory examinations. Only one student per grade (1 through 10) would receive the SILVER medal award in the province of Ontario. The GOLD award is given only to accomplished students at the Artist Diploma (ARCT) level.

We are proud to announce that this year the Royal Conservatory of Music has awarded SILVER Medals to two iMA students:

Alexander Volkov, a 12 years old violinist who has achieved 94% on his Grade 7 violin and 99% on his Theory 2 examinations; and
Xianxin Du, a 18 years old trumpeter who has achieved 92% on his Grade 8 trumpet and 99% on his Theory 2 examinations.


The International Music Academy is thrilled that Alexander and Xianxin are both the only students from the province of Ontario who have been awarded the RCM SILVER Medal this year.Congratulations and warmest thanks to their families and to the devoted IMA teachers for this great achievement. The Award Ceremony will be held on Sunday, November 25, 2007 at 2:00 p.m. at The Glenn Gould Studio, 250 Front Street in Toronto.




The 2007 Euromusic Competition has brought great success to the iMA

Aaron Wong, winner of two Bronze Awards in groups of 12 and of 9 competitors.
Aaron Wong
Sarika Chakravorty, winner of the Bronze Award in a group of 16 competitors.
Sarika Chakravorty

The Markham Music Festival is well known as the Euromusic Piano Competition. It has been created in 1994 and is sponsored by TD Canada Trust. The competition is for young pianists only and is based on the Royal Conservatory of Music curriculum. It is also one of the most serious piano competitions in the GTA.


The iMA Faculty and Staff would like to congratulate the following students for their spectacular success at the Euromusic Piano Competition:


Aaron Wong, winner of two BRONZE Awards in groups of 12 and of 9 competitors;
Sarika Chakravorty, winner of the BRONZE Award in a group of 16 competitors;
Suzette Marie Cameron and Rochelle White for their outstanding performance.




Xianxin Du has won the Kiwanis Music Foundation 2007 Scholarship

Xianxin Du, winner ot the Kiwanis Music Foundation 2007 Scholarship
Xianxin Du

iMA student Xianxin Du has won the prestigious Kiwanis Music Foundation 2007 Scholarship. He has competed at the Kiwanis Music Competition and is the only trumpeter in the GTA who has been given this award. In a personal letter to Xianxin, Ms. Pan Allen, General Manager of the Kiwanis Music Festival, wrote:


“Congratulations on your outstanding performance at the 2007 Kiwanis Music Festival of Greater Toronto! In recognition of your talent and hard work, our team of adjudication has chosen to award you with the Kiwanis Club of Toronto Foundation Award. The Kiwanis Music Festival of Greater Toronto hopes that you use this award toward the further development of your talent.”

The iMA Faculty and Staff are very happy of Xianxin’s success. He is currently preparing for his RCM Grade 8 examination in June. You can hear him playing at one of the iMA students’ recitals in May and at the iMA Annual Concert on June 24th.




The International Music Academy has sponsored world famous conductor Benjamin Zander

World famous conductor and Music Director of the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra, Maestro Benjamin Zander, came to Toronto on January 19th, 2007.


In the morning, Mr. Zander gave a speech on “The Art of Possibility: Transforming Professional and Personal Live” at the Toronto Hilton Convention Centre. Later in the afternoon Maestro Zander conducted a special concert at John Bassett Theatre in the Metro Toronto Convention Centre and presented his highly acclaimed concept of the orchestra as a metaphor for leadership. After the concert Maestro Zander signed copies of his world bestseller “The Art of Possibility”, presented by Harvard University Press.


Benjamin Zander’s work as a conductor and motivational speaker has been awarded the highest attention on five continents. His leadership view is unconventional and its impact is without boundaries. His teaching transforms entire lives through “The Art of Possibility” in ways that are nothing short of magical with results that are nothing short of exemplary. According to Fortune 500, “Ben Zander is the hottest property on the management guru circuit”. According to Boston Globe, “Zander is one of the finest conductors in the world”.


Both the speech and the concert were presented to a very interesting multifaceted audience: executives from leading Canadian companies; conductors and music directors converging in Toronto from five continents for the Conductors Guild International Conference; high school and university students and professors; seniors.


The event was presented by Classical 96.3 FM and sponsored by the International Music Academy.




iMA students have won first awards at the 2006 Richmond Hill Music Competition

Cameron Lee
Cameron Lee
Stephen Yu
Stephen Yu

Congratulations to our students for their excellent performance!


Cameron Lee (violin, first award)
Stephen Yu (violin, first award)

The iMA teachers and staff extend their warmest wishes to our students' families. Thank you for your continuous support!



Monthly Newsletter

To print a copy of the current month newsletter and take advantage of exciting offers, coupons and current promotions, click here [PDF].

Year XXX, No. 8 (August 2026)



 

WELCOMING OUR NEW STUDENTS

Liam Zhang, piano
Llyod Chen, piano
Mary Pashin, piano & violin
Devin Persaud, piano
Vitsu Patel, piano

 



IMA STUDENTS BIRTHDAYS IN AUGUST

Lydia L., Jonathan T., Moira C., Jason T., Krish C., Aliyah L., Ira V., Chenyi W., Ezekiel B., Kiaan M., Noah D., Devin P., Nivaen S.

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!



IMPORTANT DAYS IN AUGUST

August 3           Civic Holiday. IMA is open.
August 7-8        RCM theory examination
August 10-23    RCM practical examination

 


    EARN YOUR COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT HOURS

    The Ontario Ministry of Education requires that all high-school students get involved with a charitable or non-for-profit organization volunteer 40 hours in community service. Our affiliated charity, the Kindred Spirits Orchestra (KSO), has several projects with various time commitment that can be done either at home or at its locations in Markham and Stouffville. If you are in grade 9, 10, 11 or 12 and looking for community service, email GM@KSOrchestra.ca The projects are open to all students (including those who are not taking lessons at the IMA), so feel free to refer your friends.



     

     



    GET A $30 CREDIT ON YOUR NEXT MONTH TUITION

    We have been very pleased with the continuous success of our students. They have improved a great deal and we share their excitement with their families, friends, neighbors, and schoolmates. We appreciate your interest towards our programs and services. We are always very happy to welcome new students of all ages, levels, and instruments to the iMA. Please tell your friends about your experience with the International Music Academy.


    Do you know someone who is thinking of taking music lessons or who has children who may be interested in getting their hands on a musical instrument or singing? Do you know a teenager who needs a high school OAC credit? Do you know an adult who has wanted for a long time to learn how to play a musical instrument but has never had the time or inclination? Please tell them about the IMA.


    As an appreciation for your referral, we will give you a $30 credit for each new student who registers at the International Music Academy as a result of your referral.


     




    PERSONALIZED IMA GIFT CARD

    The IMA offers personalized Gift Cards that could be used as thoughtful birthday, holiday, bar/bat Mitzvah, graduation gift or for any other occasions as well as to encourage someone to start learning a musical instrument or singing. The card can be used for any products or services.


    The gift card is available for any amount. As cards are personalized with the name of the person who will receive it as well as with the name of the person who purchase it, requests have to be made 1 day in advance. Cards can be ordered in person, by phone at 905.489.4620 or by e-mail at info@InternationalMusicAcademy.ca. At the time the card is ordered, a non-refundable $5 deposit is required. The full value of the card is paid upon pick-up (and the deposit is credited towards the purchase price). Payments can be made by any major credit card, cheque or cash as well as through the accounts of the IMA Clients.



    COMPOSERS’ ANNIVERSARIES IN AUGUST

    2/08/1945        Mascagni died
    8/08/1975        Shostakovich died
    09/08/1919      Leoncavallo died
    10/08/1928      Janacek died
    12/08/1992      John Cage died
    13/08/1912      Massenet died
    22/08/1928      Stockhausen was born
    22/08/1862      Debussy was born
    25/08/1918      Bernstein was born
    26/08/1958      Vaughan Williams died
    28/08/1959      Martinu died

     

    Where you born or do you know someone who was born on the same day as these famous composers?
    Drop us e-mail at info@InternationalMusicAcademy.ca to let us know.

       



      FEATURED TEACHER OF THE MONTH

      Ms. Antonia De Wolfe

      M.Mus., B.Mus., Piano and Music Theaory


      Ms. Antonia de Wolfe has graduated with a degree in piano performance from the George Enescu Institute of Music in Bucharest, Romania and, later, with another degree from the Central School of Music affiliated with the P. I. Tchaikovsky State Conservatory in Moscow. She has also graduated from the Academia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia in Rome, where she studied with Sergio Perticaroli, and has earned a Master in Music (piano performance) degree from the University of Toronto. In addition, Ms. de Wolfe has studied with Maestro S. Petricaroli at Mozarteum Hochschule für Musik in Salzburg (Austria). Ms. de Wolfe has given several recitals and concerts in some of the finest concert halls in Bucharest, Moscow, Rome, Paris, Salzburg, and Toronto. She has also taught piano at the Columbus Centre, Cosmo school of Music, and Koffler Music School. As a collaborative pianist and accompanist, she has been in great demand for several productions of the Centuries Opera Association, Toronto Opera Repertoire, Palestrina Choir, Ethobicoke Centennial Choir, and others. Ms. de Wolfe is a registered teacher with Royal Conservatory of Music.

       

      Ms. Antonia De Wolfe was happy to answer a few questions for our Students and Parents:

       

      1. What do you like most about teaching? I feel a great satisfaction upon following the development of my students’ skills and of their understanding of music. When I teach pieces that I myself have played I get a new perspective on them and I get new ideas about alternative ways to approach them. Teaching requires a keen analysis of musical structure, which helps the teacher to unveil hidden or new meanings involved in the experience of music. Also, I like to perpetuate the love of classical music for the new generations.

       

      2. How do you inspire students to practice more? It’s very important to listen to music. Listening to recordings, going to concerts… Listening to music is an active process that inspires a student. It awakens in them the expressive possibilities that music offers. I always demonstrate a piece of music on the piano. Also, I give the student several repertoire choices and let them pick their favourite one. Finally, it is important to put a piece in historical context: information about the composer and the period the music was written in. All of this leads to inspiring my students to learn more.

       

      3. What roles does performance play in student’s development? It is important to have performances as milestones in a student development. Such events contribute much to shape the self‐image of a student. Once a student has a performance as a set goal practicing becomes more exciting! Simply, a motivated student puts more effort into practicing. The performance in itself represents the culmination of all the effort put into practice. Plus, it’s a great feeling to be on stage and create beautiful music.

       

      4. Who are your favourite composers? Robert Schumann has been a long-standing favourite composer of mine. His intense romanticism has always moved me. His ability of changing moods from lyrical calm to passionate torment, from sadness to great joy and glamour, exemplify is depth of character (as a composer). Also, from orchestral repertoire I like Symphonie Fantastique by Hector Berlioz. Wagner and Berlioz were both innovators of program music (music that has a story line behind it).

       

      5. What was the last piece of music (sheet music or a recording) you purchased for yourself? I purchased Carnival by Robert Schumann, a piano piece.

       


       

      FEATURED STUDENTS OF THE MONTH

      Gabriel Gnanasampanthan

    • What instrument do you play?  I play the piano.
    • How long have you taken lessons? I have been taking piano lessons over 4 years
    • Who are your favourite musical artists? My favourite composer is Mozart. I enjoy listening to his music because it is expressive and inspiring.
    • What are your other hobbies, besides music? I like to play badminton. It is a fun and active way to spend my free time.
    • Favourite food? My favourite dish is pasta.
    • What is the coolest thing you’ve learnt in your lessons in the past three months? The coolest thing I learned is to play J.S. Bach’s Minute in D Minor.
    • Do you have any performance coming up? I don’t have any upcoming performances, but I’m looking forward to performing at the Winter Music Festival.
    •  

      E-mail to info@InternationalMusicAcademy.ca a photo of yourself (or your child) together with the answers of the questions above. The deadline for submissions is the 15th of every month. We will feature you in one of the next issues of the newsletter.



      FEATURED ARTICLE

      MILES DAVIS: THE FLAWED GENIUS WHO TURNED THE JAZZ WORLD UPSIDE DOWN

      by Roger Thomas

       

      Roger Thomas marks 100 years since the birth of a jazz legend by looking back at the style and personality that shaped his unique career

       

      Miles Davis 1959. Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

       

      It’s said that Kind of Blue is the jazz record owned by anyone who owns only one jazz record. What’s interesting is that there seems to be no obvious equivalent for either classical or mainstream popular music, both of which have their legendary bestsellers but neither can point to a single pivotal recording by an individual artist. In the year that marks the centenary of the birth of trumpet player, composer and bandleader Miles Davis, the inevitable celebratory writings, musical tributes and rehashed recordings are already in generous supply (not that there was a dearth of such material previously), so perhaps Miles’s main achievements are more easily viewed at distance.

       

      Born in Alton, Illinois into a land-owning professional family (a favourite boyhood pastime was riding horses on his grandfather’s farm), Miles Dewey Davis III received a typical middle-class education culminating in a year at the Juilliard School, although he abandoned his music studies when professional engagements overtook them. Despite encounters with racism at various times in his life, Miles (who always insisted on being referred to thus) had no time for the stereotype of the downtrodden negro; when presented with the idea of the blues being rooted in suffering, he simply said, paraphrasing Gershwin, ‘My daddy is rich and my momma’s good-looking. I haven’t suffered and I don’t intend to suffer. I can play the blues.’ He preferred instead to focus on the inner workings of the music that had obsessed him since childhood, a mindset that would inform his artistic development throughout his career.

       

      His family moved to the St Louis area a year after his birth, where trumpet tuition led to the young Miles forging an early career as a musician. Unexpectedly roped into the Billy Eckstine band, he found himself sharing the bandstand with Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie, remaining intermittently after they had left. Already restless, this presented him with the final incentive he needed to move to New York, where he could seek out fresh opportunities. Joining Parker’s quintet in 1947, he was swept up in the creative maelstrom that would become known as bebop.

       

      Many regarded bebop, with its complexity and often hectic pace, as a new and different music altogether, to the extent that even towards the end of the 20th century a band might present itself as playing ‘jazz and bebop’. Just short of his 19th birthday in 1945, he made his recording debut with reeds player Herbie Fields before playing on Parker’s recordings for Savoy and Dial Records.

      While his contributions to these sessions have provoked as many opinions as there are critics, the signs of Miles’s developing style are clearly discernible. However, while his technique allowed him to place suitable notes in the right places, bebop was not an obvious environment for his musical thinking. He was wary of overstatement, having gravitated towards restraint, precision and informed evaluation. He famously described this as wearing both spats and a flower in your lapel, deciding you didn’t need both and then realising you didn’t need either.

       

      A combination of internal dissent and Parker’s heroin-fuelled behaviour led Miles to part company with him at the end of 1948. He subsequently became a member of the creative circle surrounding the arranger Gil Evans, who was interested in working with ideas associated with classical composition within the broad context of jazz. Evans admired the attention to detail, texture and timbral density he heard in the music of Debussy and had also absorbed ideas from a host of other composers such as Milhaud and Weill. Miles had found a kindred spirit, as had Gerry Mulligan, a youthful baritone saxophonist also possessed of the kind of arranging skills that could be brought to bear on this new approach.

       

      The upshot was the seminal nonet recording entitled Birth of the Cool, with subsequent issues tagged as The Real… and The Complete… depending on the mixture of track sources. Credited to Miles but with much input from his associates, the innovative style and an extended instrumentation that included French horn and tuba saw a critical reception that tended in the direction of polite perplexity. The original band had a short lifespan and the album would only find true appreciation in hindsight, exacerbated by its intermittent recording schedule delaying its release until 1957. Nonetheless, Miles now had a basis for further progress.

       

      The intervening period was one of mixed experiences. A visit to Paris in 1949, which he found inspiring and liberating, was followed by a shortage of engagements on his return to New York. Good news came in 1951, when producer Bob Weinstock, who understood where the music on Birth of the Cool had come from, signed him to his Prestige label. A period of heroin addiction was brought to an end when he returned to live with his father in 1953, allowing him to re-enter the fray with a sense of clarity and renewed energy the following year.

       

      Feeling a need to make up for lost time, Miles recorded several albums in succession. He had become drawn in the direction of hard bop, the more straightforward but nonetheless energetic offspring of bebop that rehabilitated more conventional structures, adopted tight, funky rhythms and incorporated arrangements of popular songs, a strategy that he would make his own later in his career. This period also saw John Coltrane playing in his band, although the saxophonist was sacked in 1957 due to his own heroin addiction which he too overcame, leading to his reinstatement and his subsequent appearance of two more essential albums: Milestones in 1958 and the aforementioned Kind of Blue in 1959.

       

      Milestones retained components drawn from several areas of the trumpeter’s musical experience, with elements of the blues, swing and bebop and the music that followed it. However, it also marked the first fully gestated piece of modal jazz in the form of the title track, based around a brief, uncomplicated but memorable uptempo riff that recurs at intervals during the composition, which overall is joyously liberated yet also perfectly sculpted. Kind of Blue consolidates this approach. With typical insight, Miles described modality as a challenge to melodic invention that also avoided the dead end of improvising on a chord sequence when ‘you know at the end of 32 bars that the chords have run out’. Seasoned jazz listeners will have encountered examples of this, typically marked by a hapless player ending a solo with long single notes while waiting for the cavalry to arrive.

       

      Anyone new to Miles’s music could do far worse than starting with these two albums before exploring his recorded timeline in either direction. He would continue to innovate, very much on his own terms, with such projects as the soundtrack to the Louis Malle film Ascenseur pour l’échafaud. Dating from the same period and informed by the same modal style, the music was largely created through live improvisation inspired by footage from the film. Sketches of Spain from 1960, co-composed by Gil Evans and derived from interpretations of music by Rodrigo and de Falla, is either a brilliant example of the notional classical/jazz fusion tagged by Gunther Schuller as ‘Third Stream’ or simply nondescript, depending on who you ask. Sketches of Spain was produced by Teo Macero, whose subsequent artistic relationship with Miles has been compared to that of George Martin and The Beatles.

       

      Miles embraced electric instruments and rock rhythms from the late 1960s onwards, resulting initially in In A Silent Way and Bitches [sic] Brew, the former assured and elegant, the latter either an inspired and fearless incursion into the avant-garde or a noble/ignoble failure, again depending on who you ask. Certainly, the whole ‘electric Miles’ era has been an area of contention between traditionalists and futurists, but his methodology, rooted in a pluralist ethic that today would be regarded as musicological as much as musical, retains its own identity regardless of context.

       

      Miles was, after all, a musician who was perfectly at ease referencing Indian music (a natural fit with his modal approach), flamenco or Stockhausen. One likeable example of his good-music-is-where-you-find-it stance is his take on Michael Jackson’s ‘Human Nature’ on the 1985 album You’re Under Arrest, its limpid melody providing the perfect environment for the trumpeter’s sparse yet uplifting improvisations.

       

      Miles Davis died in 1991 of pneumonia and respiratory failure exacerbated by a stroke. He was 65. It’s impossible to do more than sample his sprawling discography here and equally impossible to list all the A-list musicians associated with him, but happily there are plenty of sources for this information. However, despite his unique gifts, he was also notoriously aggressive, authoritarian and misogynistic, exemplifying Anthony Braxton’s proposal that the history of music is not exclusively the history of nice people. In very different ways, we can hopefully learn from both these aspects of Miles’s legacy.

       

      No vibrato Miles’s teacher Elwood Buchanan encouraged him to play without vibrato, supposedly on the grounds that ‘you gonna be shaking enough when you get old’ but added he already had his own unique style that he should continue to develop.

       

      Favouring the midrange Rather than stretching the range of the trumpet to extremes at the cost of the instrument’s timbre, Miles would focus on the midrange, where tone, dynamics, projection and intonation could be properly controlled.

       

      The Harmon mute This aluminium mute (pictured above) was strongly identified with Miles’s sound. The Harmon has a removable stem for producing the often comedic ‘wah-wah’ effect which Miles unsurprisingly dispensed with, saying of the resulting tone that ‘it sounds like a voice’.

       

      A modal approach as an alternative to the energy of bebop, Miles adopted a modal style that provided scope for improvisation but with an added element of structural discipline, the open-ended results allowing the use of static harmony rather than chords as a backdrop. The distinctive nature of modal scales in general is easily demonstrated on a keyboard instrument by playing a white-notes-only seven-note scale.

       

       


       

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